Extremely high wait times and long lines at the DMV are pushing the department to keep its doors open longer. Beginning on August 4th, 60 DMV offices across the state will be open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Although the California DMV has received nearly $70 million in additional funding to help shorten lines, long waits and extreme delays — caused by a new queuing system and the debut of the Real ID, a new identification card with enhanced security protections — continue to plague state residents. Since California’s implementation of the federal Real ID program requires applicants to go in for an in-person field office visit, Bay Area residents could wait longer than six weeks for an appointment at some DMV offices. We’ll discuss why wait times are so high and what is being done to address the issue.
Guests:
Jessica Gonzalez, spokesperson, Department of Motor Vehicles
Kathleen Pender, business columnist, San Francisco Chronicle
Related:
DMV Expands Saturday Hours to 60 Field Offices (DMV)
Two DMV Field Offices in Bay Area to Open Earlier (DMV)